Having success on his own for a bit, he later joined the folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash as a fourth member in 1969, thus forming Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He forged a successful and acclaimed solo career, releasing his first album in 1968. His career has since spanned over 40 years and 34 studio albums, with a continual and uncompromising exploration of musical styles; his musical vision is notably referred to by his autobiographical tune"The Loner". Music critics have often called him one of the best single artists of all time, and several tunes such as "Heart of Gold" and "Rockin' in the Free World" remain popular on rock radio.
According to the Don't Be Denied Songfacts, the 16-year-old Neil was raising chickens and selling the eggs, with plans to go to Ontario Agricultural College and be a farmer. Only his leisure activities foretold his future, when he would hide from his family problems in his room with his transistor radio playing local station CHUM. From this, Young experienced a growing admiration for rock n roll originators such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and, of course, Elvis Presley. In 1958, his father bought Neil his first music instrument, a plastic ukulele. His father would later recall, "He would close the door of his room... and we would hear plunk, pause while he moved his fingers to the next chord, plunk, pause while he moved again, plunk."
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Neil started his professional music career in the mid-60s with a number of bands in Canada, including the Squires and later the Mynah Birds, which also included fellow future Buffalo Springfield bassist Bruce Palmer and future funk star Rick James. When the Mynah Birds broke up, Young and Palmer headed to California to meet Stephen Stills, whom he had met in Thunder Bay, and the result was Buffalo Springfield. That band split up after releasing three critically acclaimed albums, particularly achieving international fame for their tune "For What It's Worth".
Showing his strengths as a cynical yet experimental songwriter in the group, he also sung prominently in some of the band's songs such as the biting satire of 'rock star' life "Mr. Soul". Neil soon started his solo career with the release of 'Neil Young' on November 12, 1968. The album did not do very well commercially, but it included several strong tracks, including "The Loner", said to be a portrait of Stephen Stills but also being deeply auto-biographical.
On May 14, 1969, he recruited members of Crazy Horse and made the critically acclaimed 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere'. This was a much more consistent album, being the first to introduce longstanding collaborators Crazy Horse and beingbuilt around the balanced interplay between the guitar playing of Young and the talented Danny Whitten. The album also featured two lengthy classics, "Down by the River" and "Cowgirl in the Sand". The critically acclaimed solo album "After the Gold Rush" came out in 1971, featuring such classic songs as "Southern Man'", "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and "Don't Let it Bring You Down". Harvest followed in 1972 with the hit"Heart of Gold".
During this time he also enjoyed considerable success as a quarter of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Neil's subsequent work has zig-zagged across genres - dabbling in country rock on "Old Ways"; electronics on "Trans"; hooking up with the Shocking Pinks in a homage to old-time Rock 'n' Roll on "Everybody's Rockin'"; creating a wall of feedback on the live Arc-Weld; and cementing his status as Godfather of Grunge when collaborating with Pearl Jam on Mirror Ball.
His idiosyncratic approach to genre even led to him being sued by his record company (Geffen) in the 80s for making "uncharacteristic" music.
Young has also dabbled in film, most recently on the album/concert series/dvd Greendale.
Young is often known by the nickname "Shakey." According to his biographer Jimmy McDonough, the name was given by his friends after noticing very unsteady results holding a camera for home movies.
Young founded Pono Music, whose mission was to bring a digital player, download store, and streaming service devoted to hi-res music. It was a commercial flop and was shut down in 2016. Young has stated that the labels would not agree that "All songs should cost the same, regardless of digital resolution."
The film Canadian Bacon includes the line "Canadians are always trying to figure out a lot of ways to ruin our lives. The metric system, for the love of God! Celsius! Neil Young!"
For recent news see: http://www.neilyoung.com/
Imagine
Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one
The song "Imagine" is a poignant reflection of Neil Young's desire for a utopian world devoid of religious, political, and economic divisions. The opening lines of the song, "Imagine there's no heaven/It's easy if you try/No hell below us/Above us only sky" suggest that he is rejecting the traditional notions of religion, believing that it divides humanity more than it brings people together. Young further elaborates on this idea by putting forward the belief that a world not constrained by religion would be a place without war, as there would be "Nothing to kill or die for." Young envisions a world where people live for today and not for an afterlife.
The second verse of the song delves into the idea of a world without borders. Young believes that if countries didn't exist, there would be no systemic issues that divide people. In a world without borders, there would be no need for military actions, as everyone would be living in peace. Young advocates for a world where people live together in peace, free from the divisions caused by politics and geography.
In the final verse of the song, Young imagines a world that has done away with the concept of material possessions. The line "Imagine no possessions/I wonder if you can" is a rhetorical question that challenges people to question the status quo. Young wants people to share the world's resources and live in a "brotherhood of man." He believes that a world without greed or hunger is possible, and it starts with individuals making small changes.
Line by Line Meaning
Imagine there's no heaven
Picture a world in which there is no afterlife
It's easy if you try
This world can be easily envisioned
No hell below us
Consider a world where punishment does not exist
Above us only sky
The world is peaceful and limitless
Imagine all the people living for today
Envision a world where people live in the present moment
Imagine there's no countries
Picture a world without borders or divisions
It isn't hard to do
This world is not difficult to imagine
Nothing to kill or die for
In such a world, there are no causes worth fighting or dying for
And no religion too
In this world, there are no religious conflicts
Imagine all the people living life in peace
Envision a world where all people live harmoniously
You, you may say
Although others may object to these ideas,
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
Many people share this vision with me
I hope some day you'll join us
I hope others will share our vision and join our cause
And the world will be as one
If everyone works together, the world can become a unified place
Imagine no possessions
Envision a world without material goods
I wonder if you can
Consider if you can imagine this world
No need for greed or hunger
In this world, there are no inequalities or lack of resources
A brotherhood of man
This vision is based on a sense of fraternity among all people
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
Envision a world where resources are shared equally and there is no division
And the world will live as one
This vision can lead to a world of unity and peace for all
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., BMG Rights Management, BUDDE MUSIC FRANCE, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JOHN LENNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thommy2n
I think this is probably my favorite version of the song. Not only because Niel Young is an absolute master at pulling at the heartstrings with even the simplest of verses, but in this case what he added with a small yet big change in the lyrics.
-Original lyrics "Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can"
-Youngs version "Imagine no possessions, I WONDER IF I CAN"
It's becomes not just a vague reflection of humanity but willing self reflection, and awareness that he says these words from a relative place of success and luxury that most people will never get to experience.
Aidan
*Neil
W.T. Regan
This was such an extraordinary act of courage to sing this song at this time. I've seldom felt prouder to be a Canadian to hear another Canadian sing this song.
Sloedwn
The entire Tribute To Hero’s still makes me cry. Those of us alive will never forget those days.
Itoarazi official
When I first heard the opening chords to this when it first aired all those years ago, I immediately got my defenses up and said, "Okay...WHO the hell thinks they can do this song justice?! The NERVE!"
...and then I heard Neil Young's voice. I was immediately set at ease.
Lincoln Jones
I remember watching this in 2001, just a few days after 9/11. It's hard to explain just how powerful hearing this song was at the time.
Thomas Martin
I wish we listened to the words. We let anger and fear get to us.
Peter Morrissey
My friend was in NYC at the time of the attack, I'd been there a month prior to the day, everything changed that day.
joey eisenzimmer
I know exactly what you mean. I think it was the first moment of optimism I felt since watching the planes hit the towers on CNN.
ksol1460tv
I was not expecting this at all until I heard that voice. I didn't know he was going to be there, and I would never have guessed he would play this.